Filler fox for cushion filling machines



P 1953 H. A. FERRIER 2,652,962

FILLER BOX FOR CUSHION FILLING MACHINES Filed March 17, 1952 INVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 22, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT osrrrc FILLER "BOX'FOR CUSHION FIIiLING MACHINES Claims.

invention relates to improvements-in fill ingboxes for cushion filling machines, and provides :a filling box and cooperative elements whichare equally adjustable in precise stepsrfor positive and efficient cooperation between the elements, and includes the filling box proper which is adiustableinsdepth in .a series of-speclfic steps, :a hold-down which is identically adjustable with the .box, andiurther includes a bottom spanning plate :on which the :box is adjustably supported, anda .top spanning plate which. is-supported on top of the box, with the spanning plates being at least coextensive with the :bottom and top of the box in .minimum width'adjusted position, and which spanning plates provideior excessive width adjustment of the box through closing of the gaps between the bottom members and cover members when the adjustment .is in excess of the span of the bottom members and cover members.

.In addition, a hinge mounting is ,provided vfor the top spanning plate, and this .hinge mounting isalso adjustable identically with the box to permit the plate to be swung to a position clearing the box for introducing the filler material, and when swung into spanning relation to the cover members, will lie flat on these members.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide a filler box for acushion filling machine and which box is adjustable in height in specific measured steps to insure parallelism between the top and bottom of the box.

Second, .to provide a filler box as outlined with top and bottom spanning plates having a width at least equal to the minimum adjusted width of the box, to provide for extraordinary width adjustment, with the spanning plates spanning the gap between the bottom sections and cover sections when these sections are separated through excessive width adjustment.

Third, to provide the top spanning plate with a hinge mounting at one end for retraction'to clearing position for the filler box, and to provide adjustable supports for the hinge mounting with the supports adjustable in steps identical with those for the height adjustment .of thefiller box toinsure continuous cooperation between the topspanning plate and the cover members of the box.

Fourth, to provide hold-down means movable to clearing engaging positions with the top spanning plate and filler box, and which holddcwn means is adjustable in fixed steps equal to those :of the filler box height adjustment to in- 2 sure .proper location of :the ihol'd-ydown .in :terms of height to agree with the other-height adjustable elements.

.In describing the invention reference will Lbe hadto the accompanying drawings, in which:

55g. 118 a stop plan view of theinvention with aporttion of the top spanning plate brckenlaway to show elements therebeneath.

21s aside elevation of Fig. .1.

Fig.3 isa front elevation :of :the topspanning platehinge bracket and special pusher rndbearmg {particularly adapted to .this invention, and is viewed in the direction 3-4 on .Eig. l.

.i ilg. d is enlarged top plan view of the .top spanning plate hinge bracket and support with pusher rod bearing, and hinge connection.

Fig.5 is anenlarged fragmentary view showing the adjusting bracket on the bearing for step adjustment of the hinge bracket with its spanning plate.

Fig. Sis an enlarged sectionthroughtheholddown leverhub and showing the .set screw receeses in the hold-down shaft for adjustment or the hold-down in conformity with height adjustmentof the fillerbox.

The lower position of the filler box consistsof two right angle-elements mounted in opposition and having each a bottom wall it anda side wall H, with .the side wall having .-a height equal to the minimum thickness of'cushion to be stuffed, the bottom walls having each a width equal .to the minimum width of cushion to be filled to overlap each otherior minimum to mean widths of adjustment, or, if desired, they may be made one-halfthat width to have their adjacent inner edges abut for minimum width but which will not prcvidefor as. great a degree of width adjustment as when they overlap.

These side walls each have spaced bolts l2, l3 and Hi (bolt omitted at 12) fixed adjacent their upper edges "t5, and the bottom walls it are coupled to the width "adjusting screw E 6 which is operable bymeans of a-handle E-l, this ltfiuti lOd of adjustment being conventional and therefore requiring no detailed description, the respective ends of the screw'being cut with right hand left hand threads for movement -.of the members in opposition.

The bottom walls iii are supported on the bottom spanning plate 18 which has suitable passages tor the connections l9 between "the adlusting screw :and the bottom walls, .:for relative movement.

.The upper portion of the filler 'box consists of two opposed members each including :a side wall 2'0 and a cover member 21 hinged together as indicated at 22, and the cover members are coxtensive with the bottom walls of the lower portion of the filler box. The side walls have a series of equally vertically spaced holes 23 at one end and center, and longitudinal slots 24 are formed inwardly from the other end.

The hold-down consists of a shaft 25 which is pivoted in the plate extension 26 as indicated at 21 and has a series of set screw recesses 28 spaced identically to the holes 23 and slots 24 in the upper side walls, and relatively located for precise adjustments. A hold-down lever 29 has a hub as provided with a set screw 3| for selective engagement in the recesses 28 for securing the hub in any fixed height position to agree with the adjustment of the filler box, and this lever may be swung outwardly at will to clear the filler box as indicated at 29 when the box is to be opened.

When this hold-down lever is swung in to engage the top of the box or the overlying top spanning plate, the height is maintained devoid of any vertical travel during the swinging movement as occurs with the conventional threaded hold-down, thus providing for equal and exact adjustment to insure accurate holding of the cover members.

The combination bearing and adjustable hinge bracket includes a base 32 and back walls 33 and 34 spaced as indicated at 35 for the pusher rod 36, the adjacent ends of these back walls having forwardly projecting wings 3'1 and 38 between which are rotatably mounted two spaced rollers 39 and as on pins M which are supported in these wings, the rollers being spaced to guide the pusher rod and thus forming a bearing therefor. These back walls 33 and 3d are recessed as indicated at 42 for guiding and maintaining alignment of the hinge brackets 43 and M.

Each of the hinge brackets 43 and 44 has a depending flange 45 with the body portion projecting forwardly to a vertical face 46 for attachment of the hinges ii and 48 for the top spanning plate 19, the upper end of the hinge brackets, starting from the location of the hinge pintle 50, being tapered upwardly and rearwardly as indicated at to provide a rest for the top spanning plate when swung to clear the box as indicated in Fig. 2, for loading the filler box.

The back walls 33 and 34 are each provided with a Vertical series of equally spaced holes 52, while the depending flanges each has a single hole for a screw 53 which is provided with a wing nut 54.

The pusher rod 36 is normally retracted. The hold-down is swung to the position 29. The top spanning plate G9 is swung back to the position shown in Fig. 2. To adjust the height of the box, the wing nuts are removed from the bolts l2 and i3 and loosened on the bolt M. The upper portion of the box is removed, the end 55 of the side wall being retracted from the bolt I4 and raised or lowered to the desired height and slid into place under the wing nut. This supports the one end so that attachment of the other end 56 is easily and conveniently carried out, the wing nuts being applied to the bolts I2 and i3 and they along with that on the bolt l4 being tightened. The hub 30 is next adjusted on the shaft 25 to the same relative position, the spanning plate hinge brackets are adjusted identically with the box and hold-down, providing for exact 4' conforming adjustment of all cooperative elements.

The width of the box is adjusted by means of the handle I1. With excessive adjustments the cover members and bottom members will be separated, leaving a gap therebetween, the bottom spanning plate being fixed in position and. therefore will span this gap in the bottom members.

The cover members are opened and the box filled with the filler material, after which the cover members are closed. The top spanning plate is swung down as indicated in Fig. 1 and will span the gap between the cover members 2|. The hold-down is next swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, the cushion cover is slipped over the end 56 of the filler box, making the machine ready for operation to stuff the filler material into the cushion cover. Cushion type bumpers, such as soft rubber are provided for the pusher head as indicated at 51 and are mounted on the front portion of the bearing.

Thus a filler box and cooperative elements are provided which are all identically adjustable in precise steps, with all elements efficiently secured in their adjusted positions. The width of the filler box is adjustable through a far greater range than conventional filler boxes because of the spanning plates which additionally provide increased resistance against bulging, assuring efficient and uniform filling of cushions and the like.

I claim:

1. A filler box for a cushion filling machine comprising; a bottom spanning plate, lower box members adjustable on said bottom spanning plate and having each a lower side wall and a bottom member supported on said spanning plate, upper box members each including an upper side wall and a cover member hinged thereto, stepped adjusting and securing means cooperative between said lower and upper side walls for precise adjustment and securing of the side walls together for precise adjustment of the depth of the filler box, and a top spanning plate for cooperation with said cover members to provide reinforcement and to close the gap between the cover members when the box is adjusted to excessive width, and a hinged support for one end of said top spanning plate and including stepped adjusting and securing means for said hinged support and having steps conforming to those cooperative between the lower and upper side walls for equal adjustments, and means cooperative between said lower box members for adjusting the width of the filler box; said hinged support comprising a bearing for the pusher rod of the cushion filling machine and having a vertical wall including vertical guiding means, and a vertical series of passages formed therein and conforming in spacing and relative location with said stepped adjusting and securing means, a hinge bracket vertically slidable in said guiding means and including a passage formed therein and a bolt for said passage and said passages for adjustment and securing of said hinge bracket, and a nut for said bolt.

2. A filler box for a cushion filling machine comprising, bottom members and top members, each including a side member, with the side members for the bottom members each having a bolt fixed adjacent the upper edge adjacent each end, and the side members for the top members having each vertically spaced slots formed inwardly from one end and adapted to engage about the bolt at one end of the side member for the bottom member, and having a vertical series of holes at the other end to selectively engage over the bolt at the other end of the side member for the bottom member, and a nut for each bolt, providing for positive and precise stepped adjustment of the depth of the filler box, and with the slots providing for convenient support in adjusted position for said one end while the other end is being adjusted and secured, a spanning plate having said bottom members adjustable thereon and means for adjusting said bottom members for adjusting the width of said filler box, a bearing for the pusher rod of said cushion filling machine and including a vertical guide member, a hinge bracket vertically adjustable on said guide member and including stepped adjusting and securing means conforming in spacing and relative location with said equally spaced slots and holes in said side member, a top spanning plate hinged to said hinge bracket and engageable with the top surface of said top members, with said spanning plate closing the gap between the top members and the bottom members when the filler box is adjusted to a width in excess of the combined widths of the top members and bottom members.

3. A fillerbox for a cushion filling machine comprising, two bottom members mounted in opposition and each having a bottom wall and a lower side wall, a bolt fixed adjacent the upper edge at each end of each lower side wall, two top members mounted in opposition and each having a cover member and a depending side wall hinged together with the depending side walls each having equally spaced slots formed inwardly from one end to selectively engage about the bolt at one end of the lower side wall, and having a series of equally spaced bolt passages formed adjacent the other end for selective engagement over the bolt at the other end of the lower side member, and a nut for each bolt, providing for positive and precise stepped adjustment of the depth of the box, a support for said filler box, means cooperative between said bottom members and said support for adjusting the width of the filler box, a bottom spanning plate coextensive with the bottom of the filler box in minimum width adjusted position and with the box supported thereon, a top spanning plate coextensive with said cover members in minimum width adjusted position and applicable to the top surface. of said cover members, with said spanning plates providing for increased adjustment of the width of the box through closing of the gaps between the bottom members and the cover members when the width is adjusted beyond coincidence of the edges of the bottom members and the cover members; a bearing for the pusher rod of the cushion filling machine and having a vertical guide plate on each side of the bearing and each guide plate having a vertical series of bolt holes. conforming in spacing and location relative to said slots and bolt holes in said lower side walls, a hinge bracket vertically adjustable in each guide plate and having said top spanning plate hinged thereto and having a bolt hole registrable selectively with said holes in said guide plate for adjustment of the top spanning plate in conformity with that of the depth of the filler box, a bolt for each guide plate and hinge bracket, and a nut for each bolt, for securing the hinge brackets in adjusted position.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3; said hinge brackets having upwardly projecting support members for support of the top spanning plate when swung back to clear the filler box.

5. A structure as defined in claim 4; a holddown including a shaft rotatably mounted and maintained against axial movement, a vertical series of recesses formed in said shaft, a lever having a hub slidable on said shaft with said hub including a set screw for selective engagement in said recesses, and with said lever movable over the top spanning plate to engage substantially centrally thereof, and with said recesses spaced, and in connection with said set screw being located to conform to the spacing and location of said slots in said lower side walls, for exact adjustment for all of the cooperative elements of the filler box.

HERMAN A. FERRIER.

Andrews Aug. 30, 1910 Kay Mar. 25, 1952 Number 

